Fabrics of Multicultural Australia (FOMA) has announced its 2021 program, to be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
The event, which will take place tomorrow December 2, helps to stimulate economic growth for the creative sector and generates bilateral trading opportunities through the showcase of visual arts, textile design, and visual storytelling.
FOMA was established in 2018 by entrepreneur Sonia Sadiq Gandhi, chief executive of events enterprise, Gandhi Creations, to promote the diversity of the Australian creative industries sector, while providing an opportunity to connect international brands who are looking to invest and grow in the Australian market.
"The brief is to provide a collection with a sustainable angle, that is eCommerce ready, and which speaks to the designer’s journey and their cultural heritage," Gandhi said of the event.
From 11am to 3pm, FOMA will host its free and publicly accessible Artistic and Cultural Exhibit, which is run in conjunction with the platform’s Foreign Government partners and their Trade Commissions.
Attendees and exhibitors can engage in bi-lateral trade with participating nations through fashion and cultural diplomacy.
Then in the evening from 5pm to 7pm, FOMA's Runway Showcase will return at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
The FOMA Runway will feature the works of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) artists from across Australia, with guests able to view the creative influence of cultures across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
The event will showcase 12 designers and 30 of the world’s diverse cultures through the Faces of FOMA program.
FOMA Ambassador UTS Professor Tim Harcourt added that the FOMA platform is a great way to boost economic growth and visual arts creativity.
"Australia is gifted to have so many cultures of the people who have come from beyond our shores to make our island continent their home.
"An excellent example of this meeting of cultures is the FOMA platform.
"It's an honour to be an ambassador for FOMA and support its vision of stimulating economic growth while fostering social cohesion through the visual arts lens," he said.
The full list of artists and designers, exhibitors and countries and regions is listed below.
FOMA will take place on December 02, with complimentary tickets available via the event website.
2021 FOMA Artists and Designers:
- Amelia Jan Tahere-Angus
- Cynthia Hawkins (designs pictured)
- Colleen Tighe Johnson
- Eliana Gamboa-Chapman
- Ilham A Ilham
- Jasmine Jeong
- Maryam Oria
- Peter Dwyer
- Wendy Scully
- Zohar Edelshtein Budde
2021 FOMA Exhibitors:
- The Embassy of Israel in Australia
- ProChile and The Embassy of Chile in Australia
- The Embassy of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Canberra
- Consulate General of Ireland in Sydney
- Consulate General of The Republic of Malta
- China Cultural Centre Sydney
- Korean Cultural Exhibit
- Afghan Women on the Move
2021 FOMA Countries and Regions:
- Afghanistan
- China
- Chile
- Ireland
- Israel
- Jordan
- Korea
- Malta
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- Latin America